OldMomOf3

Hi AlleyKat, I'm scheduled for June 21 and like you, totally freaked out about surgery! SERIOUSLY freaked out. I just keep reminding myself that I'm more freaked out about...high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, and early death due to obesity - all which run in my family. I want to see my kids and grand-kids grow up, so I'll suck it up and do this thing.That prevents me from canceling. Hang in there fellow June banster. You aren't alone and I'm sure that by July we will only regret not doing this sooner.

I drink Isogenix shakes. They taste very good and have plenty of protein w/o a lot of fake stuff that's bad for you. You have to mail order them, so it might be to late for some folks, but if you have a week before you start your liquid diet, give it a try.

I'm telling a select few about the hernia, and only my husband about the band. I'm not even telling my kids. I'm just not interested in hearing any criticism or being judged. My husband and I made this decision for my health and that is between the two of us. I am looking forward to being thinner, but not looking forward to people noticing or commenting. It's just a very personal issue for me and I don't want to be asked any questions or hear any opinions that I don't ask for. I don't know how I will feel about it in a few months or when the weight loss is noticeable. Maybe I'll tell the world, but probably not. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who feels this way. Honestly, if I didn't have to tell my husband, I probably wouldn't have even told him, but that's not really possible.

At my first appointment they tested me for an ulcer and asked a lot of questions that let them to believe that I may have a hiatal hernia. So they scheduled me for an endoscopy 3 weeks prior to surgery. They said, if I do in deed have the hernia, that they will fix it when they do the band. They said they do that almost routinely because they don't want to find any surprises.

Previously banded readers....What would you do? What does your surgery experience tell you, to tell me? I'm so freaked out about having surgery that I'm thinking of moving the procedure up so I can get it over with before I change my mind. I was scheduled to be banded on June 21, but I'm thinking of moving it to May 31. Here's my concern.... I can have the surgery on Thursday May 31, or Friday June 1, but by Wednesday June 6 I have to be able to help my daughter through a 2 day dance competition. That means 5 days after surgery, I have to be able to be out of the house for 48 hours, survive 2 days (Wednesday and Thursday) that involve helping my daughter with changing costumes 14 times each day and walking about 1 block between the stage and dressing area in between each costume change. We have to be up early in the morning and up late at night. Then the following day (Friday - 1 week after the surgery) I am hosting the after party at my house. This will involve cleaning the entire house, making 3 deserts, and putting on a happy face from 6-11pm. Would you have been able to do that? Is it smart? I want to allow myself to take it easy for about a week, but 1. I'm totally afraid I'll freak out and change my mind if I have to wait until late June. All that time to think about it will drive me to run!!! I'm just so freaked out about surgery. 2. I want to get started loosing weight and recovering sooner rather than later. 3. No matter when I do the surgery, I have 3 kids 13, 9, 7, I home school them and teach nights. No matter what I will have to hit the ground running fairly soon after surgery. At most I will have 5 days to "rest" and then I have to do normal life again with little or no help, and go back to work at night. What is your advice?

I soooo appreciate the advice and wisdom and I'm listening! I will keep my June 21 surgery date and try to rest as much as possible. I will have to return to work on Monday, 4 days after surgery, but I only have to work Monday and Wednesday. Unfortunately, I have to stand most of the time at work and I have to be teaching/training the entire time (professional, well dressed, up and lively), but I think I can do it. I will only have to work 5 hours each day. My 13 year old is exceptionally compassionate and he will be a big help at home. My 9 year old is very calm and quiet and she will be helpful in keeping the WILD 7 year old off of me. My husband will help too, but he has to work the 3 days after I have surgery. I'm only telling 3 friends about my surgery, and they will be somewhat helpful. But they all have 3 kids of their own, so they are pretty busy too. Now I just have to hang in there and not run away from surgery. I've never had surgery before, but my son has had 8 in the last 2 years. I know it's hard on the body and easy to over do it afterwords. Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Thanks for that input, Banders. I'm going to listen to your wisdom and experience. Afterall, that's why I posted the question. So, thank you. I'm going to call the office today and if they an get me in on the 24th or 25th, I think I'll do it. That would be a week before the days I asked about and will give me an ADDITIONAL 7 days before I have to face the big 3 dance days (for a total of 13 or 14 days to recover). I'll let you know what happens,

I'm TERRIFIED, but scheduled anyway, for June 21. Unfortunately, that's the earliest I can fit it into my schedule. The thought of having surgery absolutely terrifies me and so does the thought of having a device in my body. However, high blood pressure, diabetes and not seeing my kids and grand kids grow up is even more scary. So, I'll pray, trust and just do it. I'm looking forward to the support I will receive, and hopefully someday give, here on this forum.